STEM

Would you like to begin your college career near home and be part of a Maysville Community and Technical College Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) Program?

STEM graduates are changing the world all the time. They work on creative, practical solutions with other smart, inspiring people to invent, design, and build things that matter.

UK, MSU, and other state universities need STEM transfer students! UK reports that transfer pre-engineering students are twice as likely to graduate as those who begin as first-year UK engineering students.

MCTC offers STEM students:

Cohort structure of small classes with support services

Classes at Cynthiana, Paris, Morehead, and Maysville with minimal travel

For more information:

Maysville Community and Technical College STEM Program

A nation’s strength is tied to the strength of its economy; economic strength depends on a highly skilled workforce. The new economy will rely more heavily than ever on a highly skilled and educated workforce with expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Until the late 1990s, MCTC had small but successful STEM programs. Graduates of MCTC who continued at The University of Kentucky and other state universities are employed locally or still have ties to the community. Local business and industry have demonstrated a demand for STEM majors and will provide summer internships for prospective engineering students.

However, enrollment in STEM degree programs, including engineering, at Kentucky’s universities is declining. One reason for this is that fewer students are taking STEM classes in community colleges. Therefore, the number of STEM students who transfer into programs at the universities that offer B.S. engineering and other STEM programs in the state (UK, University of Louisville, Morehead State University, and others) has declined markedly. The UK College of Engineering, and indeed the State higher education system as a whole, is concerned that the decline in the number of transfer students is impacting the number of B.S. STEM graduates.

G. T. Lineberry, UK Professor of Mining Engineering and Associate Dean for Commonwealth and International Programs, states: “Rest assured that despite some misrepresented positions and some confusion, UK and the College of Engineering remain solidly behind the strategy of strengthening the transfer ties between KCTCS institutions and UK. The College of Engineering is eager to continue its efforts to do what it can to work on the aspect of the engineering pipeline that involves development of pre-engineering programs and offerings. Our data suggest that while only about 35% of entering engineering first-year students will graduate in engineering major within 6 years, the success of transfer students into engineering is between 65-70%. On that basis alone, it behooves us to do what we can to work with those institutions committed to providing a solid pre-engineering foundation for prospective engineering transfers. “

In response, MCTC has instituted an effort to reestablish STEM programs. Students in the programs will have ACT test scores that qualify them to start with college-level math, English, and science courses. They will declare as STEM majors and agree to take the courses in one of the STEM programs. MCTC has merit and need-based scholarships for students who want to pursue a STEM career. These scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis to students who are ready to take the college level courses in one of the curriculums.

MCTC STEM students will receive the opportunity:

For summer internships with local engineering-intensive companies

To take the mathematics and science courses needed by STEM majors locally

To transfer to the UK College of Engineering or other STEM programs

This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.